CHINA BISTRO is a hole-in-the-wall restaurant at 5650 Stirling Road in Hollywood FL.
It used to be in Dade County, but the Waterways mall in which it operated was sold and the restaurant moved to Hollywood. My spouse and I had been to the much larger Waterways location twice: once with good results, once not so good; suffice that we would not make the trip to the Waterways again were the restaurant still there.
THE SPOUSE was checking the credit card statement with the receipt from the local China Bistro.
That’s when things “hit the fan.”
First of all, we noticed an 18 percent gratuity.
FOR TAKE OUT!
If truth be known, the food was only “so-so.” The Soho Asian Bar and Grill in Aventura is far superior; if I must drive into Dade County at least I know the food, service, and bill will be fair.
One of our sons was visiting and we wanted a “quick” meal. We had been to China Bistro’s Hollywood store soon after its grand opening — the few tables it has were filled and people were waiting to be seated. We left and ate elsewhere.
Because we now knew that the restaurant was probably crowded, we called in an order for take-out.
MY MISTAKE
In a hurry to return to Spouse and son, I signed the bill without paying close attention.
It turns out I should have paid “close attention” and challenged the 18% gratuity.
Why am I paying 18% of the $50-something bill for having a cashier hand me several boxes (not bagged, thank you).
How much “service” is required to a hand over several boxes of food — again, sans bag in which to carry them. (I walk with a cane and getting out of the restaurant and to my fliver was, at best, a challenge. Another customer did offer to hold the door for me; much appreciated.)
When the Spouse was checking the credit card bill — she matches bills with the statement, line by line — there was an explosion of less than ladylike language.
When I got up the courage to ask her what was the problem, she showed me the bill and the credit card statement.
Adding insult to injury, she now has been on the phone for roughly 30 minutes trying to reach a Customer Service Representative at the credit card company. She has a great deal more patience that this scrivener.
She also tried four times to call China Bistro. Twice she was put on “hold and forget”and twice she heard a busy signal. To be fair — difficult under the circumstances — she tried to call from 5 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on New Year’s eve.
FOOL ME ONCE, . . .
Will we return to China Bistro in Hollywood or any place else?
Not a chance.
Will we recommend China Bistro in Hollywood or anyplace else?
Likewise, not a chance.
If anyone believes an18 percent gratuity is appropriate for take out by all means order a meal from China Bistro.
SoHo also automatically adds the surcharge for “satisfactory” — read “nothing to write home about” — service, but at SoHo I dine in and the food always is enjoyable. It is a bit of a drive, but compared to other “Chinese” restaurants we’ve tried in Hollywood, it is well worth the trip.
And in the end, the Spouse was displeased with her meal. To its credit, it DID make my meal "spicy." The son's chicken soup — he was feeling poorly — was "OK."
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